Comments

I was in favor on the idea back when I was in high school (88-92). Coordinating the off-day activities would be the key. You can't put another burden on working parents by forcing them to take care of their kids during the off-day. Making the kids volunteer would nullify the volunteer aspect. What if the kids just want to stay home and hang out? I would like to see the county test the program with a single school and track the results; how many volunteered, how many stayed home, how many got into trouble, how many worked. It can be done, and successfully, but I have little faith in government to do it right.

I am a teacher and the mother of two sons, who attended Pompano Beach High. We love the 4-day school week, but perhaps for different reasons! Both of my sons took on-line courses to supplement their education, so Friday was a great day to work on the courses. They also had jobs since the age of 15. They learned responsibility and money-managing, as well as the value of an education (since they worked in back-breaking landscaping!). Of course if you ask my kids, they'll say they loved the M-TH schedule b/c they could sleep in on Friday! And if you ask me, a teacher, I'll say the M-TH benefits all; we'll get more done in the classroom with longer periods, and the students will learn important life lessons in a community service or work situation on Fridays.

I am a Broward County high school teacher, and I know for a fact that this suggested 4-day school week is a good idea. Pompano High School has had a 4-day week for several years, and their implementation is exactly what you described. On the 5th day--Friday, students are allowed to come in for special tutoring (i.e. FCAT), but many students volunteer or do internships.

Also, the high school in which I teach sees an extremely large number of student absentees on Fridays. Having a 4-day week would certainly cut down on absenteeism.

It's a win-win situation all around for high schools, unlike the suggested change to a 7 period day for each high school with teachers teaching 6 periods.

What people don't understand is that many teachers currently teach that extra period now, but for extra money. If the School Board implements the 7-period day, it will essentially make teachers teach MORE students than they currently do, cut their pay $6000-$8000, and it will force layoffs. Definitely NOT a good plan.

The four-day week for high schools is a much more palatable alternative.

These are all excellent points, and if parents and the county are concerned about attracting and retaining more high quality teachers (in addition to the ones we already have), this is the way to go about doing it!

You think it's a good idea to send children into hospitals as volunteers? Why, to spread disease with unclean hands? To trample on people's privacy? To gossip about people they know who are patients? You daydream if you think these penalties can be eliminated; you are naive if you they think they can be managed by training. Hospitals require careful selection to obtain volunteers, the very opposite of this proposal.

I think teachers need to get with the program that many people across all spectrums of the workplace are struggling and how dare they bitch about raises, when their neighbors may not even have a job. As a working professional, my contributions in the workplace are just as necessary and important as theirs, but I - like most - don't get every holiday off nor summers off. Teachers need to get real, and realize that nobody -- even them - is entitled at this point.

As for a four day school week, it's a bad idea. We have enough juvenile delinquents with parents who do not supervise them as it is now. I bet we would surely see a rise in petty crime with kids having Fridays off and too many with too much time and nothing to do. I think a better idea is year round schools. Kids would have more time to learn and not un-learn everything over the long summer off. Oh, and I'm not so sure the budget deficit is as bad as the politicians are trying to make us believe because they seem to have a deficit no matter what ...

Teachers will be expected to teach an additional period without additional money.That requires negotiations with BTU; BTU is already in mediation with the school board after refusing a 3.5 % salary increase for teachers as being inadequate. What do you think the chances are that the union will accept the 4 day week? Ain't happenin'.

I think it is a bad idea. First of all, the attention span of a high school student is already short enough. A four day school week would mean that you have school longer each day. By the end of the day the kids will be bored to death, antsy, or sleeping in class. When they actually get home a lot of the students will be too tired of school to do their homework or study. That also means that teachers have less time after school to grade work or prepare for their next day in class.

In addition, what would this do to sporting activities or other extra-curricular activities? Kids will be practicing to even later in the day giving them even less time for homework. Will students have to find their own transportation to & from school so they can still practice on Fridays? And will sporting events like the cross-country meets be in the dark?

I taught at Ely during the much lauded 4x4 schedule. What a mess! Teenagers in class at 7:00 in the morning! The day did not end until after 4:00. We had two hour classes, which were just too darn long for the students and their instructors. By the time Friday came around, everyone was too exhausted for all the tutoring, volunteering, and other carrots those espousing the four-day week are dangling. In the twelve years I taught in Broward, we had to adjust to seven different schedules. Folks, it is not what time the bell rings that needs fixing. I suggest looking inward.

JUST WHAT TEACHERS NEED ANOTHER DAY OFF, THERE LUCKY THERE JOBS ARE RECESSION PROOF. IF THEY GET ANOTHER DAY OFF IT SHOULD BE A FURLOUGH DAY, SAVING THE TAXPAYER A FEW BUCKS IN THIS ECONOMY MIGHT HELP THE RECOVERY.

I like the idea, however think the day off should be a wednesday and teachers would be allowed and encouraged to give the bulk of the homework for the week to be done on Wednesday. Days would be an hour and a half longer, big deal. I also think teachers should be compensated for the extra class being taught. As much as you all think teachers have it made, you don't have a clue. If you just take the amount of time they spend at home, grading papers, preparing tests, doing planning, it adds 6-8 hours a week. Sure they get planning time, and most of it is spent on administrative tasks or going to meetings. There are meetings after school to coordinate with the other teachers, because the dept of education wants all the teachers on the same task everyday. They use money out of pocket for supplies needed for their classrooms. Yeah they get summers off, but their pay reflects that. They are babysitters, educators, psychologists and sometimes parents to these kids. Lets give them credit for all they do.

There are so many uninformed people speaking about teachers. If we do not work, we do not get paid. There is no summer pay. We are paid for a set number of holidays - just as corporate America is paid. We are paid for 196 days per year. Do the Math. Or do you need a teacher to show you how?
The previous post does not use "THERE" appropriately either time the word was used. It is embarassing to read while slamming teachers.

this entire thing is CRAZY! they want to save on electricity? well lets try turning down the air conditioner- every school I go to I wear a sweater- regarding money and teacher pay: just heard the governor this weekend's interview say that passing of Obama's plan would allow teachers to get paid more-yet we are battling over a raise and a step increase- I moved here 8 years ago from the northeast and still am making LESS than I did back then- (florida is after all one of the poorest states in regards to money spent on education=less for students and for staff ) I heard the president say last night he wants to create incentive by rewarding teachers who demonstrate professional advance... competency....as I recall Florida wants to or already did away with extra pay for teachers who passed national boards (that WAS the incentive plan) so it all sounds like babble to me! and if your gonna have students only go 4 days you cant have them come in on friday for tutoring-Notter specifically wants to cut down on energy cost and you cant tutor in the dark!

I think this is a bad idea. The fact of the matter Mayo is thay your totally being idealistic. The problem is we don't teach our kids anything other than how to take that stupid test (FCAT).Life skills are a little more broad than what is put into a test. These kids now a days don't even know how to think constructively on how they veiw the world or how to solve problems. I have a high schooler at home trying to get her to think constructively about anything is like pulling teeth, and she's an A student. If they go to a 4 day school week there should be a mandate for community service or volunteering on that 5 th day and make it count towards college credits. For the silly lady that made the comments about teenagers volunteering in hospitals....news flash they already volunteer in hospitals.

First of all,cutting down teachers are wrong. They take care,teach and watch our children 5 days a week 8 hours a day. Give them some credit. I am a mother of a 13 year old daughter who does not do well in some classes but is learning because of her teacher who dedicated. And I have 2 boys at home 3 and 4 years old. Push to teach them what I can before they start school.
No matter if you have kids go to school 4 days with extended hours or 5 days it the same amount of time they are learning. Yes,you can have some kids get in trouble on Fridays but you can also kids get in trouble when getting out of school on a average day with five days a week.
Most teachers became teachers to be dedicated to students and teaching them, so why would anyone cut them down. They do not make a large amount of money, I know I am going to college to became a teacher for children with learning disabilities. It takes a lot of patience to deal and teach kids. The teachers are the ones who teach our children from the age 5 to 18 so think about that!

First of all,cutting down teachers are wrong. They take care,teach and watch our children 5 days a week 8 hours a day. Give them some credit. I am a mother of a 13 year old daughter who does not do well in some classes but is learning because of her teacher who dedicated. And I have 2 boys at home 3 and 4 years old. Push to teach them what I can before they start school.
No matter if you have kids go to school 4 days with extended hours or 5 days it the same amount of time they are learning. Yes,you can have some kids get in trouble on Fridays but you can also kids get in trouble when getting out of school on a average day with five days a week.
Most teachers became teachers to be dedicated to students and teaching them, so why would anyone cut them down. They do not make a large amount of money, I know I am going to college to became a teacher for children with learning disabilities. It takes a lot of patience to deal and teach kids. The teachers are the ones who teach our children from the age 5 to 18 so think about that!

I have two words for you: FERAL CHILDREN. Every time the little angels have a day off from school that is not a standard holiday for most working people, the crime rate in my neighborhood skyrockets - everything from broken porchlights to thefts from backyards. Check out the broken bottles and overturned trash containers in your alley, if you live in Hollywood, on the days there is no school. It's not just here in Broward County. Hillsborough County has been tracking the crime statistics for days that there is no school for a while now. It's eye-opening. I believe, feral children will eventually be the single leading cause of death of senior citizens. As the economy gets worse, they will start killing us off for our social security money, iPods, and DVRs.

It's understand that the School Board is stuggling to balance their budget. All units of government are undergoing that exercise at this difficult economic time. But I worry that a 4 day school week for high school students could turn into a major problem for parents and cities. Unfortunately, we are seeing increases in youth related crimes and gangs. Too many of our teens have an abundance of unsupervised time on their hands. When both parents work, or in a single parent situation, it's hard to ensure that teens are well supervised after school, much less if they have every Friday off. Now, it's true that overwhelmingly Broward County kids are good and stay out of trouble. But statistics don't lie, and increasingly point toward trends that need to concern us all. In that context potential savings at the School Board might trigger the need for cities having to hire many more police officers. The taxpayer will pay more that way. Also, I have little confidence that the School Board would sustain funding for non-profits to run after school programs on Fridays as they aren't doing much of that now, and weren't substantially engaged in that kind of activity during good financial times -- much less now. So where would those dollars come from? The safer choice is to suggest that the School Board make other attempts to balance their budget in ways that won't cause new budget issues for cities or supervision problems for the parents of teen age students.

I think the idea is ridiculous. I am a working parent and I don't have the luxury of staying home with my son. I do not want to leave him home alone or let him hang out with friends unsupervised. Teachers have enough days off as it is and the whole summer! They rely on homework to teach the kids (meaning parents are the teacher if they care). Why doesn't the Lt Governor give up his private plane rides to and from work and other government officials lose their perks and we might find some money for education.

I think the idea is ridiculous. I am a working parent and I don't have the luxury of staying home with my son. I do not want to leave him home alone or let him hang out with friends unsupervised. Teachers have enough days off as it is and the whole summer! They rely on homework to teach the kids (meaning parents are the teacher if they care). Why doesn't the Lt Governor give up his private plane rides to and from work and other government officials lose their perks and we might find some money for education.

I don't think it's a good idea. It may sound good to have Fridays off to do other activities but extended hours at school, learning new things, is too much. They'll get tired and won't have the energy to do homework and study at home. Their grades will be affected.

Yeah, 4 days a week is great but not the answer. I am a teacher and it would create animosity between teachers who work 5 days and those who work 4 days. Just not Fair.
Instead keep the 5 days, add 2 more hours a day and make high school only 3 years.
Then these older students can go to community colleges/universities sooner rather than hanging out. Let them start working on a career earlier in life.

Yeah, 4 days a week is great but not the answer. I am a teacher and it would create animosity between teachers who work 5 days and those who work 4 days. Just not Fair.
Instead keep the 5 days, add 2 more hours a day and make high school only 3 years.
Then these older students can go to community colleges/universities sooner rather than hanging out. Let them start working on a career earlier in life.

A longer day, students will be tired, burned out as the day progresses; therefore, the change will not enhance student performance and success; the opposite will occur.
Some high school students have to work for themselves or help their families financially--so an end to income!
There are other ways to same money that your board and will not address, that's becoming more and more obvious.

So... How do you propose Freshman and Sophomore students get to these volunteer opportunities if they are too young to drive themselves? What about students without their own cars or parents available to drive them. Sorry, this is a nice idea, but nothing more.

I need to add to my previous comment (I got too excited to elaborate).
I have children in school (not in high school yet), both my wife and myself have jobs in education (actually my wife is with kids now, but it's temporary). And I think 4-day school week is a terrible idea:
1) feral children - even in "good neighbourhoods" vandalism and petty crime are way up when teenagers are not in school. - this is bound to wipe oup any potential savings, costs will just shift from one department to another
2) deterioration of education. I am not so much cncerned about my own children, bacuase I'll do anything possible to ensure they receive proper education, but I am concerned about the general population, where parents are not able to (or don't care to) do that. This will put American students in a disadvatagous position. American grad schools can keep importing students from China, India, Russia etc, and Americans will be dumed to flip burgers and replace tires. We will become slaves in our own country because better jobs (requiring better education) will be taken by people educated abroad. You may think you can manage to educate your children, but is your neighbour to the challange?

Arguments about teacher's jobs are misplaced from both sides.
Yes, it appears that teachers work shorter hours but it's only on the surface. There is a lot more to being a teacher than just showing up in the classroom.
And teachers complaining about being paid for only ten months is bull. I am comparing annual salaries -spreading over 10 months or 12 makes no difference.

And last comment: everybody justifies this move by tightening budget. My tax keeps going, my neighbour's tax keeps going up. Where is that money is going?

IF the goal is to save money, how does developing volunteer and other programs for the "day off" work to save money. That's actually going to mean more staff have to be added to run and set-up these programs. Bottom line, the USA is already behind in educational standards across the developed world. Turning thousands of kids lose in the shopping malls and the parks with no parents around, does that sound like a good idea?

I would hate it. We barely have enough class time in each subject. On top of it all teachers have to cram so much information in to our heads and at the same time keep up with the FCAT curriculum. It is almost impossible to soak it all up. On the contrary school days should be increased. This probably one of the most abnormal absurd things you can here from an actual student, but it is true. If we had year-round schools students would be more disciplined and sharper. There is no time to waste. If a student wants to learn about how the everyday business works or help out by volunteering he or she may do so on his or her own time. We don’t have anytime to waste we rush from chapter to chapter and so many careless mistakes are always being made on tests because of the lack of marinating time. Right now at my school their so-called FCAT review is just pure bologna, most teachers don’t even bother leading their students astray. The truth is we all cram for FCAT in 2weeks and end up not getting down the basic concepts anyway.

It is a BAD idea. Kids now that are involved in after-school extra curricular activities barely have time to do their homework and eat dinner with the family. Not to mention, the days would be 25% more intense with the same number of tests/quizes/projects due in 4 days instead of 5.

Then there's the issue of kids home all day with no parental supervision. Welcome to sex, drugs, and rock-n-roll. Yikes!!!

Here's a tip to save money. How about the public schools not providing buses to children who go to schools out of their assigned area. If you want to get your kid to a magnet school, arrange a car-pool or drive them instead of having buses that are mostly empty criss-crossing the county.

To sick and tired: You don't know ANYTHING about being a teacher. I get so annoyed with people stating what easy jobs teachers have and how dare we ask for things. There is a reason that teaching is always on the top 10 list of most stressful jobs; because it is! Yes there are benefits. Time off is nice. However we DO NOT get paid for that time off. I DO NOT get a pay check over the summer and I do not get paid for time off during the school year. I have been working for 10 years as a teacher. My salary before taxes is $45,000 so divide that by the 190 days I work a year (180 + 10 planning days) I earn about $1,180 before taxes the weeks I get a pay check (remember I DO NOT get paid over the summer). I spend hundreds of dollars a year buying BASIC supplies for my classroom. I also put in countless hours over my contract time at school.
Yes I feel sorry for anyone that loses their job, but don't know what that has to do with my salary? Trust me when financial times were good schools never saw any extra money, but now that times are bad it's the first place they want to take a lot of money from. These children are yours and mine. Is there anything more important to us? Is it really wise to make teachers bitter and disappointed with their job choice when their teaching YOUR child. Think about your own job, aren't you happier and don't you do a better job when you feel appreciated and valued? Teachers are human and feel the same.

I graduated from Blanche Ely in 2002 and all throughout my four years there we had a 4 day week.I think it worked very well. Not having that 5th day made us be at school the other 4 days.And as far as the long classes, we gladly did it because it meant FREE Friday. Alot of kids got jobs,did internships, or completed their volunteer hours. The school offered courses for college credit, to make up failed classes, and also for tutoring. Tutoring became especially helpful during FCAT and SAT/ACT time. Friday school was a great alternative since Broward schools offer next to nothing over the summer in which a student can make up for lost time or failed classes. Very many of the kids opted to go to school on Fridays to be part of extracurriculars with friends because being home was boring. All these comments about "feral children" on Fridays. Most of that comes down to parenting and like several people said,providing suitable activities. And ask yourselves did you even notice the hundreds of us that attended Ely or Pompano during all those Fridays for all those years? Keep in mind these are also Magnet schools so it would not have only affected Pompano Beach.

To Karen: If you, as a teacher, knew the difference between their and they're (...when their teaching YOUR child), I would feel much better about those $45000 that you make each year. But don't worry, you're not alone. My son's teacher told him that whales are herbivores... Maybe the education in this country should be extended rather than curtailed.
As far as cost is concerned, why not turn off the miserable aircondition once in a while. I hate it when I have to provide my child year round with winter clothes - sweater and jacket, long pants - and during recess he sweats profusely and goes back into the icy building with a wet shirt on his back. By the time, I pick him up, his hands are icy and he gets sick several times a year. Even the teachers come with the big jackets, but nobody seems to care. This waste makes me sick.

4 DAY WEEKS WITH 40 MIN. COURSES AND 40 MINUTES OF HOMEWORK PER COURSE PER DAY
AND FRIDAYS FOR TEACHERS TO GRADE ALL THOSE PAPERS.

BUT TO ALSO SUGGEST THAT WE ELIMINATE SPORTS FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL REALLY DOES NOT MATCH THE INCREASE IN FAT AMONG THAT AGE GROUP THE LAST 10 YEARS. BUT THEN, YOU MIGHT SUGGEST GETTING BURGER KING, MCDONALDS AND WENDY'S FARE OUT OF THE SCHOOL CAFETERIAS TO DECREASE THE FAT AS WELL.

WE ARE SUPERSIZING OUR CHILDREN AND WE NEED TO STOP IT. EXERCISE IN SPORTS DOES WONDERS.

Dear Mayo: Not a good idea.Some teachers have second jobs to make ends meet. Extended hours would not allow teachers or students to hold those extra part time jobs. Many students need the jobs to help them pay for their expenses-car payments, insurance and many help their families out with bills. One focus area the school board might want to look at is the number of re-hires of administrators after they have retired. I think they make the same hourly wage when they retired. Keep the kids in school 5 days. Let the teachers teach the curriculum not the Fcat. What's wrong with having them pass the SAT or ACT for graduation and quit wasting resources on FCAT

Get REAL.... YOUR SALARY IS FUNDED WITH MY TAXES SO YES I DO HAVE A RIGHT TO CALL TEACHERS AND THEIR UNION OUT ON DEMANDS FOR SALARY INCREASES WHILE VERY FEW OF THE GENERAL POPULATION ARE GETTING ANY. AND DON'T ASSUME I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT TEACHING AND HOW "STRESSFUL" IT IS, My job is stressful as is the case of a lot of other folks. Be grateful for what you have and suck it up like the rest of us!

Plus $45K is a mighty fine salary. Whether you choose to take your salary over 9 months or 12 months teachers still do pretty damn well compared to others who may also hold advanced college degrees and have jobs that are just as important. Also, teachers have many opportunities to earn extra salary with teaching summer school, tutoring and taking on extra extra curricular activities. I don't buy your bull that teachers are overworked and underpaid to the extent they whine they are. Quick acting like you are entitled to anything other than your paycheck for the work you perform. Also, parents who think it's the government's job to babysit their kids are also wrong. But a four day school week is wrong too on so many levels.

I noticed you didn't comment at all about the idea that school should be year round, The outdated system we use with summers off was designed to allow children to to assist family farms with the harvest. It's a stupid system in modern times that we no longer need. Work 12 hour days year round like the rest of us and then come crying to me.... I get so tired of reading about the strong arm tactics of the BTU demanding raises while many have to do without and scores of people are out of work through no fault of their own.

Please don't take this as attacking teachers as the problem. It's clearly administrative mismanagement and a vested interest of those on the dole in maintaining the status quo whether its best for the community as a whole or not. And for the record, if teachers are worthy of such perks, WHY is the performance of our students in public school so lacking as a whole?

I DON'T THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA.WHY THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOL AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS DON'T CUT THEIR SALARIES ON HALF?SO THEY ARE GOING TO SAVE A LOT OF MONEY THAT CAN BE USE ON DIFFERENTS AND IMPORTANTS THINGS.AND LIZ I AGREE WITH YOU.AFEW DAYS AGO I WENT TO SCHOOL TO TALK TO A PRINCIPAL WAS IMPOSSIBLE,SO I CALLED THE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT THEN WHEN THE PRINCIPAL RETURNED THE CALLED THAT I MAKED TO THE SUPERINTENDENT I TOLD HER THAT I WORK REALLY HARD ON THIS COUNTRY TO PAY HER AND HER STAFF THEIR SALARY, SHE WAS FURIOUS AND TOLD ME THAT SHE PAID TAXES TOO BUT THE DIFFERENCE IT'S THAT ANY OF THE PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR SCHOOLS PUT THE BREAD AND THE MILK ON MY TABLE,I WORK FOR A PRIVATE COMPANY.LIKE I SAID BEFORE IF THE SUPERINTENDENT AND THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS CUT THEIR SALARIES ON HALF WE ALL CAN BENEFIT.

I don't know if a 4 day school week will go over too well. If you remember President Obama's state of the union address on Tuesday night, he said that the US high school graduation rate has dropped, and college graduation statistics compared with our competing countries (ie. China, India, Japan, UK) have gone straight into the gutter.

Additionally, I can guarantee you that no private school will not even consider this option, therefore giving biased educations to different social classes.

Wow! It really is amazing what people think they know, when it comes to how this would play out. First of all, schools are on a 7.0 hour day, so to deduct one day from the week, would add approximately 2 hours to the remaining four school days. Thus, a schedule of 7:30 - 2:30, could become 7:00 - 4:00. Now, is that really such a big difference?? When it comes to the type of schedules the schools offer, at a 4 x 4 block school, yes, this extra time would seem to add too much to already long periods, but to a school on a rotating seven, straight seven, or straight six schedule, this would add minutes to each period, that are greatly needed. This would also encompass the School Board's want, to have all high schools on the same schedule, which they say, will also save money. What many people fail to realize, are the different options that schools would have, were there to be more hours in the school day. How about 45 minute lunches, so that the children actually have time to eat, with the 1500 other students that are trying to eat at the same time? I think I've read in the past how they don't have enough time to eat, and know firsthand, that many of them don't. How about 8-10 minutes to walk across that vast campus, instead of just 5 minutes? This would cut down on the number of tardies, which would cut down on the amount of time taken by teachers and administrators, dealing with the disciplinary issue that goes along with multiple tardies. Instead of looking at Mr. Mayo's idea for what could take place on Fridays as a negative, why don't you look at the positives it would bring to the remaining four days in the school week. Also, volunteer hours are now a requirement for graduation, this would give many the opportunity to take part in such activities, during the week, instead of on the weekend. And, lastly, having recently left Broward County, the public bus system is not THAT bad, so those of you concerned with Freshman, Sophomores, and those with out cars, hop on the bus! Stop babying your children into thinking they can't stay home alone, or go somewhere without their mommy and daddy!

My goodness some people simply appear to have an issue with teachers having time off, vacation.......I kind of understand but do not agree with the vented anger. It must be hard working 12 hour days-I am home by 3:30 which allows we quality time with my toddler before all household chores....I do not know how the average 9-5 workforce do it! Nevertheless, teachers only get paid for the days and hours they work. Their fight for more $$ has been ongoing and before the entire national financial crisis. Yes making $40K is an honorable wage and someone should be thankful to even still have a job in today's day and age (did you see Oprah's show yesterday -oh of course not you were working) The point is the pay, the benefits...particularly here in Florida have never been good-its not like we were making millions and now are disappointed because for the first time we cant get a raise ! Everyone I know that has less education (I have a masters) makes MUCH more than I and that includes one of my ex-drop out students that is currently working for Verizon-now that is sad-that is why we fight for higher pay! But dont be so...angry -you too can opt to teach and have less hours to work daily and time off but less pay! of course then you will have to do extra tutoring...to make ends meat like many teachers do which will simply put you back to the 12 hours a day work schedule...
by the way regarding your "year round schools" comment: having year round schools the way you define it (students literally attending year round) would mean more cost! hello! you would have to pay all staff for year round work as well as utilities for maintaining the schools open-who is flipping that bill? on the plus side teachers wont have to do "side jobs" anymore!

My goodness some people simply appear to have an issue with teachers having time off, vacation.......I kind of understand but do not agree with the vented anger. It must be hard working 12 hour days-I am home by 3:30 which allows we quality time with my toddler before all household chores....I do not know how the average 9-5 workforce do it! Nevertheless, teachers only get paid for the days and hours they work. Their fight for more $$ has been ongoing and before the entire national financial crisis. Yes making $40K is an honorable wage and someone should be thankful to even still have a job in today's day and age (did you see Oprah's show yesterday -oh of course not you were working) The point is the pay, the benefits...particularly here in Florida have never been good-its not like we were making millions and now are disappointed because for the first time we cant get a raise ! Everyone I know that has less education (I have a masters) makes MUCH more than I and that includes one of my ex-drop out students that is currently working for Verizon-now that is sad-that is why we fight for higher pay! But dont be so...angry -you too can opt to teach and have less hours to work daily and time off but less pay! of course then you will have to do extra tutoring...to make ends meat like many teachers do which will simply put you back to the 12 hours a day work schedule...
by the way regarding your "year round schools" comment: having year round schools the way you define it (students literally attending year round) would mean more cost! hello! you would have to pay all staff for year round work as well as utilities for maintaining the schools open-who is flipping that bill? on the plus side teachers wont have to do "side jobs" anymore!

DON'T ALLOW THIS SYSTEM TO CUT YOUR CHILD'S CHANCES TO SUCCEED IN THIS WORLD AGAIN. They've already take away many after school programs with cut-backs. This is just another cut-back!! You are about to allow a whole DAY of after school time to be taken from your children too. After school time is very important time. It allows the children to learn how to sacrifice personal time to achieve thier goals. This is the time where your children are allowed to SHINE in after-school activities. That's one less day of personal achievement time used to turn your monsters into strong people.

The first time a harried parent leaves their kid home on what used to be a school day and they drown in the pool, get killed in a home invasion, or just taken by HRS, DCF, or whatever their initials are this month for abandonment, we will recall why workweeks and schoolweeks are tied together.

Single parents don't need another expense. The teachers will work four days, but still get paid for five. But the mom that stays home that day will NOT get paid.

Bad idea, and a manufactured crisis for a 2.8% reduction in costs. When the budget was 3.4 Billion, they could do five days, yet 5.2 Billion is not enough to run the five days that everyone does?

You guys are retarted. of course a four day school week would be benafitial. it save gas from school buses. easier on the environment. saves the school money for better programs. and the teachers maybe they wouldnt have friday off they could use that day to work on staff development. I'm a student and i know how hard the homework load is and to have a longer day just so i dont have homework would be fantastic. all friday to work and get money so i can start my life after highschool. You talk about the parents problems and the teachers ahving another free day.. think about the kids how less stressful it would be. We have enough of it already with school drama. and dont complain that if the teachers have another extra day off and you dont. YOU choose your job. They chose theirs. GET OVER IT.

1. The amount of schooling is the SAME in a 4-day week as it is for a 5-day week. The classes last longer to adjust for the missing day.
2. "Juvenile delinquents" already skip school and cause problems--and will continue to do so whether or not there is a 4-day week or a 5-day week.
3. Hospitals and other businesses will STILL have strict procedures and checks for volunteers.
4. Teachers will continue to make less money for their educational level than people in the private sector AND will continue to be treated as "less than professionals" by a large majority of the public. A little support from the populace would be nice... teaching is an extremely difficult job. If you don't think so try being one for an extended period of time. Most teachers aren't in the business for the money, by the way. We like educating youth and feel that what we do is important and meaningful.

well first of all we think that most of the people that want a four day school week are teachers.So what does that tell you they only want a day off for themselves!!! and second of all we think that a four day school week means more hours through out the day which will wear us the hell out.....ugh!!!!!

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About the author

MICHAEL MAYO has been the Sun-Sentinel's Broward news columnist since 2002. He is not a failed sports writer, as some detractors contend, just a lapsed one. He came to South Florida to cover sports in 1989. He now takes aim at everything under the sun. He was born in Brooklyn, went to college in Boston and has also lived in London and Spartanburg, S.C. His hobbies include losing weight (unsuccessfully) and losing golf balls (very successfully).